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Diabetes in Cyprus

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ClareLake

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4
Bit of a long shot but I was wondering if anyone could help?!

Myself and my 11 year old daughter (type 1s on omnipod) would like to relocate to Cyprus with my husband who is in the RAF, however the medical powers have decided that they can't support us out there and that the only way we could go would be to arrange intermittent private health care for my daughter should a situation arise where she needs help of a non-emergency nature in between her 6 monthly appointments. I am finding this difficult to arrange because of time constraints, could anyone point me in the right direction?
 
ClareLake said:
Bit of a long shot but I was wondering if anyone could help?!

Myself and my 11 year old daughter (type 1s on omnipod) would like to relocate to Cyprus with my husband who is in the RAF, however the medical powers have decided that they can't support us out there and that the only way we could go would be to arrange intermittent private health care for my daughter should a situation arise where she needs help of a non-emergency nature in between her 6 monthly appointments. I am finding this difficult to arrange because of time constraints, could anyone point me in the right direction?
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Clare, I wouldn't have a clue, but our member @pavlosn is a native of that fabulous island. From memory, his work isn't in healthcare or insurance, but he may have ideas or places for you to enquire.

It might be useful for you to expand on what you mean by intermittent healthcare, as that suggests switch on/switch off to me.

There are various longer term travel insurances, mainly designed for gap year folks, or snow birds over-wintering in the sun. I guess your T1 potentially complicates things, but possibly worthwhile looking into.

Have you had a discussion with a general insurance broker?
 
DCUKMod said:
Clare, I wouldn't have a clue, but our member @pavlosn is a native of that fabulous island. From memory, his work isn't in healthcare or insurance, but he may have ideas or places for you to enquire.

It might be useful for you to expand on what you mean by intermittent healthcare, as that suggests switch on/switch off to me.

There are various longer term travel insurances, mainly designed for gap year folks, or snow birds over-wintering in the sun. I guess your T1 potentially complicates things, but possibly worthwhile looking into.

Have you had a discussion with a general insurance broker?
Click to expand...

Hi,

If it's within a certain limit the RAF will pay, so the cost isn't so much the issue, it's knowing where to go that would treat a pediatric patient on an insulin pump. In a 'nut shell' there's a bit of catrophising taking place by the RAF, my daughter can be flown back to the uk twice a year for check ups but the concern is, what if a piece of equipment breaks down in the interim or there is an issue that needs dealing with quickly but not as an emergency? It would seem that because I'm an adult the issue isn't with me but as my daughter is a minor there is a duty of care. Hope that makes more sense!
 
ClareLake said:
Hi,

If it's within a certain limit the RAF will pay, so the cost isn't so much the issue, it's knowing where to go that would treat a pediatric patient on an insulin pump. In a 'nut shell' there's a bit of catrophising taking place by the RAF, my daughter can be flown back to the uk twice a year for check ups but the concern is, what if a piece of equipment breaks down in the interim or there is an issue that needs dealing with quickly but not as an emergency? It would seem that because I'm an adult the issue isn't with me but as my daughter is a minor there is a duty of care. Hope that makes more sense!
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What equipment would you consider so catastrophic it would require your daughter to be repatriated? Surely, pump providers use couriers? Have you asked your daughter's pump manufacturer if they would send a replacement to Cyprus should it be required?
 
DCUKMod said:
What equipment would you consider so catastrophic it would require your daughter to be repatriated? Surely, pump providers use couriers? Have you asked your daughter's pump manufacturer if they would send a replacement to Cyprus should it be required?
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Omnipod don't dispatch to Cyprus, however I have checked that they are willing to dispatch to any uk address and supplies could then be sent onto Cyprus from this address. To be honest I'm struggling to see what the problem is, we always have spare blood glucose monitors and we always have insulin pens at home in case of pump failure anyway. I can't help feeling that it is a lack of understanding about the disease that is the problem.....
 
ClareLake said:
Omnipod don't dispatch to Cyprus, however I have checked that they are willing to dispatch to any uk address and supplies could then be sent onto Cyprus from this address. To be honest I'm struggling to see what the problem is, we always have spare blood glucose monitors and we always have insulin pens at home in case of pump failure anyway. I can't help feeling that it is a lack of understanding about the disease that is the problem.....
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I'm not suggesting you do or don't do anything, but is there actually a prohibition on you and your daughter going without satisfying a need?
 
ClareLake said:
Unfortunately I'm afraid there is, with out medical clearance the RAF won't let us go, so frustrating!!
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Cyprus is part of the EU territoroes, so for now, an EHIC Card would give emergency care, in the same way a local Cypriot would receive it. I'm not entirely sure what level of cover that is though.

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/he...-when-travelling-abroad/healthcare-in-cyprus/

That link could be worth a read.

I would also definitely suggest you join a Cyprud ex-pat forum. There will be loads around. Anywhere brits congregate will start forums, or Facebook groups or whatever. If you Google "expat forums Cyprus", loads come up, and I have found, when using expat fora for other areas, the local expats are very keen to help.

I hope some of that helps
 
Is MDI not a good enough backup?

I expect part of the problem is that the RAF doctors on the base will have no experience with diabetes or inslin as they don't premit anyone who needs inslin to remain in the RAF. The base is a self contrianed town and I expect they never use any none RAF doctors on Cyprus.

As for spares can't the RAF setup an address in the UK that anything is send to it, get put on the next RAF flight? But taking 3 of everything could also be an option.
 
@ClareLake - Thinking about pumps and UK address, it would be interesting to ask your daughter's pump suppliers how they view BFPO addresses. In UK, to send to a BFPO address, it's usual UK postal rates (unless things have changed), but I'm guessing they may be more concerned about using the post, as opposed to courier, and customs controls and exise duties.

It couldn't harm to ask them.

Is your daughter's pump the full extent of the issue, or is it anything else random?
 
Thinking about this more, A NHS HCP may not be legally allowed to provide advice over the phone or email, as their insurance only covers the UK. A Cyprus based doctor who is not also registered in the UK may not have insurance cover or the legal approved go give healthcare within the base.

Have you spoken to a diabetes consultant at QE (Birmingham) hospital, as they may have an ideal of how to solve this.
 
ringi said:
Thinking about this more, A NHS HCP may not be legally allowed to provide advice over the phone or email, as their insurance only covers the UK. A Cyprus based doctor who is not also registered in the UK may not have insurance cover or the legal approved go give healthcare within the base.

Have you spoken to a diabetes consultant at QE (Birmingham) hospital, as they may have an ideal of how to solve this.
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I don't know how diabetes care works in Cyprus, but I doubt a Cypriot doctor would be giving advice or treatment on the base, unless they were employed by the MoD, then (unless things have changed), they will be covered by a comination of their own PI and the MoD block "policy".

Most overseas bases have arrangements will local healthcare for catastrophic events, but pre-existing, potentially volatile, condition may not be ab acceptable risk.
 
ClareLake said:
Bit of a long shot but I was wondering if anyone could help?!

Myself and my 11 year old daughter (type 1s on omnipod) would like to relocate to Cyprus with my husband who is in the RAF, however the medical powers have decided that they can't support us out there and that the only way we could go would be to arrange intermittent private health care for my daughter should a situation arise where she needs help of a non-emergency nature in between her 6 monthly appointments. I am finding this difficult to arrange because of time constraints, could anyone point me in the right direction?
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Dear Clare

Please check your personal messages for response.

Regards

Pavlos
 
pavlosn said:
Dear Clare

Please check your personal messages for response.

Regards

Pavlos
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Dear Clare

Please find attached screenshot of contact details of Ygia Policlinic Private Hospital in Limassol (closest city to Episkopi and Akrotiri Raf bases).

From enquiries with a paediatrician friend this clinic has a cooperation arrangement with the Raf .

If you call them (country code 357) and speak to a paediatrician or endocrinologist you should be able to get some more relevant info.

Best of luck with your efforts and let me know if I may assist further.

Regards

PavlosScreenshot_20190601-183719_Google.jpg
 
pavlosn said:
Dear Clare

Please find attached screenshot of contact details of Ygia Policlinic Private Hospital in Limassol (closest city to Episkopi and Akrotiri Raf bases).

From enquiries with a paediatrician friend this clinic has a cooperation arrangement with the Raf .

If you call them (country code 357) and speak to a paediatrician or endocrinologist you should be able to get some more relevant info.

Best of luck with your efforts and let me know if I may assist further.

Regards

PavlosView attachment 33315
Click to expand...

Pavlos - You are a superstar. Thank you so much for posting.

Hopefully the OP will see your post soon.
 
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